Shikha in line for grand treble

Unseeded Shikha Gautam of Prakash Padukone Academy put herself in line for a memorable treble after clinching the women’s singles and doubles titles in the Karnataka State-ranking badminton tournament here on Thursday.

The teen hardly broke a sweat as her opponent and academy-mate Mahima Aggarwal was forced to retire after the first point was played in the women’s final.

Earlier, Shikha had combined with Mahima to win the doubles final, beating Nischita GM and Varsha Belawadi 21-12, 21-18.

Shikha then made it to the final of the under-19 category, dismissing Deepthi Ramesh 21-13, 21-14. In the summit clash, she will take on Mahima who beat Archana Pai 21-11, 21-14.

Abhishek Yelligar rallied from a game down to beat Harshit Aggarwal and set up a title clash with second seed Daniel Farid

Yelligar, who lost his opening game 10-21 to the third-seed shuttler, Aggarwal, recorded an impressive comeback to pocket the following two games and book a place in the final. Yelligar won 10-21, 21-12, 21-14.

Meanwhile, Farid had an easy outing in his last four tie as he despatched Sachin C 21-14, 21-10 to cruise his way into the final.

In the U-19 category, the Bengaluru-based shuttler showed his class as he rallied from a game down to beat Nikhilshyam Sriram 18-21, 21-14, 21-10 to book his place in the title round.

In the U-19 final, Farid will take on Sahil Sipani who beat Balraj Kajla 21-11, 21-10 in his last-four tie.

Results: Men’s: Singles: Semifinals: Abhishek Yelligar bt Harshit Aggarwal 10-21, 21-12, 21-14; Daniel Farid bt Sachin C 21-14, 21-10.

Women: Final: Singles: Shikha Gautam bt Mahima Aggarwal 1-0 Ret.

Doubles: Mahima Aggarwal/ Shikha Gautam bt Nischita GM/ Varsha Belawadi 21-12, 21-18.

U-19: Boys: Singles: Semifinals: Sahil Sipani bt Balraj Kajla 21-11, 21-10; Daniel Farid bt Nikhilshyam Sriram 18-21, 21-14, 21-10.

Doubles: Final: Akashraj Murthy/ Raghu M bt Likhith A Gowda/ Sahil Sipani 21-19, 21-8.

Girls: Singles: Semifinals: Shikha Gautam bt Deepthi Ramesh 21-13, 21-14; Mahima Aggarwal  bt Archana Pai 21-11, 21-14.